Questions remain following teen's death from H1N1

LIVINGSTON, LA (WAFB) - A mother is still grieving almost a week after her teenage daughter became one of the six victims of a swine flu-related death in Louisiana. She said the many of the unanswered questions she has about her daughter's death compelled her to share her story.

Just a senior in high school, Taylor Brian had her whole life ahead of her. By all accounts, she was a typical teenage girl. It's the most confusing and troubling part of all this for her family. "Taylor swam all the time," said her mom, Ruthie Brian.

The 19-year-old senior at Denham Springs High School was focused on getting ready for the prom when something else took hold of her. At first, she was treated for run-of-the-mill strep throat. "She got better over the weekend. She felt better," said Ruthie. Once Taylor recovered, Ruthie let her get back to more exciting things, like planning for prom. "Taylor was unbelievable, amazing. You can ask anyone," she said.

A few days after returning to school, Taylor started feeling sick again, so Taylor's family took her back to the doctor. "We went back and she didn't get any better," said Terry Root, Taylor's uncle. Then, she was diagnosed with bronchitis and we treated that, so I don't think you can visit the doctor any more often than we did." Eventually, Taylor was sent to the hospital and put into intensive care. It was after three negative tests for Type A flu and days after her pneumonia diagnosis that doctors finally found she was infected with the H1N1 virus or swine flu. "By the time they were treating Taylor for H1N1, it was long past the effective period for the medicine," Root said.

Taylor's mom wonders if strep throat compromised her immune system, making her more susceptible to swine flu. She also wonders what would have happened if Taylor was treated for the flu sooner or if treatments like Tamiflu have saved her. "She would want us to help someone else. That would be her," said Ruthie.

Since Taylor's death, state health officials have significantly sped up the process for getting flu test results back. Taylor's family hopes researchers and doctors continue to learn more about the virus. To that end, Taylor's mother gave all of her daughter's medical records over to doctors.

Flu season is upon us. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana are already seeing high levels of flu activity. "Our ER director here at the hospital mentioned to me today that we've seen definitely in the last two weeks an increase in cases," said Christus St. Patrick's Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Timothy Haman. "Two to three to four patients a day, and we saw six yesterday." H...More >>

Flu season is upon us. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana are already seeing high levels of flu activity. "Our ER director here at the hospital mentioned to me today that we've seen definitely in the last two weeks an increase in cases," said Christus St. Patrick's Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Timothy Haman. "Two to three to four patients a day, and we saw six yesterday." H...More >>

Sinkholes in the road are an issue all over Lake Charles and a pretty common sight in the Downtown area. Drivers usually have to dodge the cones, especially on Division Street. If you drive down the stretch of Division Street, in between Ryan and Bilbo, you're probably used to avoiding a sinkhole. The most recent one was fixed Tuesday, caused by a cracked drainage line under the street where water seeped out and created a void. “They just go in, cut out a section and pour as...

Sinkholes in the road are an issue all over Lake Charles and a pretty common sight in the Downtown area. Drivers usually have to dodge the cones, especially on Division Street. If you drive down the stretch of Division Street, in between Ryan and Bilbo, you're probably used to avoiding a sinkhole. The most recent one was fixed Tuesday, caused by a cracked drainage line under the street where water seeped out and created a void. “They just go in, cut out a section and pour as...

Like every other state, Louisiana produces more waste in December than any other month. But individually there are things people can do to cut back on the trash they generate. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality encourages consumers to be part of the solution by working to have a more waste-free season. Their motto, Think green! Reduce, reuse and recycle. Imagine all the wrapping paper that goes to the landfill each year. Some alternatives are to wrap a gift in ...

Like every other state, Louisiana produces more waste in December than any other month. But individually there are things people can do to cut back on the trash they generate. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality encourages consumers to be part of the solution by working to have a more waste-free season. Their motto, Think green! Reduce, reuse and recycle. Imagine all the wrapping paper that goes to the landfill each year. Some alternatives are to wrap a gift in ...

A car crossed the median on I-10 in Rayne and crashed into a Calcasieu Parish school bus returning from a field trip, according to a report from Lafayette station KATC. Rayne Police Chief Carroll Stelly told KATC that there were five children aboard the bus. All the occupants are believed to be ok but have been transported to an area hospital to be checked out. The driver of the other vehicle was brought to a Lafayette hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The car was travel...

A car crossed the median on I-10 in Rayne and crashed into a Calcasieu Parish school bus returning from a field trip, according to a report from Lafayette station KATC. Rayne Police Chief Carroll Stelly told KATC that there were five children aboard the bus. All the occupants are believed to be ok but have been transported to an area hospital to be checked out. The driver of the other vehicle was brought to a Lafayette hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The car was travel...